He appeared at Hove Crown Court today, where he pleaded guilty to two offences, both of which took place in Rye: damaging property being reckless as to whether life is endangered and putting a person in fear of violence by harassment.

Gunn, who now lives Ocean Way, Port Talbot in Wales, was accompanied on the long journey to Hove by members of his family.

The judge was told how Gunn put former partner Rachel Hodgeson in fear of violence through a series of text and emails between January and October this year.

According to the indictment – to which he pleaded guilty – he threatened to ‘kill her and her children, burn her and cut the baby out of her’.

He also admitted damaging a car on October 1 that belonged to Rachel’s mother Barbara Graham ‘being reckless as to whether the life of Barbara Graham and Rachel Hodgeson would thereby be endangered.’

Anthony Waller, defending Gunn, said: “These offences arise out of the deterioration of the mental health of Mr Gunn over a period of time.